Pre-purchase engineering due diligence
A licensed engineer assesses the structure, verifies the permits, and reads the flood exposure, then hands you one written report you can act on, all before your money is at risk. Whether you are buying from the mainland or across town, you get a clear-eyed read of what the property really is.
No-obligation. We reply within one business day, in writing.
What we assess
A pre-purchase engineering review is the work of a licensed PE who knows how buildings in Puerto Rico are built, how they age, and where they fail.
Puerto Rico sits in a high-seismic zone, and the 2018 Puerto Rico Building Code (adopting IBC 2018 and ASCE 7-16) treats the island as a special wind region, so the design wind speed is read off the municipal microzone map for that specific property. We read the structural system, framing, foundation, and visible distress so you know whether the bones are sound.
seismic · wind · evaluación estructuralWe verify whether the work and the current use are actually authorized through OGPe (Oficina de Gerencia de Permisos) (opens in a new tab). By a 2018 Puerto Rico Builders Association estimate, 45 to 55 percent of the island's homes and commercial buildings were built without permits or outside the land-use codes, and an unpermitted addition can become your problem the day you take title. Permiso de Uso is the occupancy permit.
permits · OGPe · permisosWe identify how the property sits relative to FEMA (opens in a new tab) flood mapping and what that means for risk, elevation, and insurability, so a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) is a decision you make on purpose, not a surprise after closing.
flood zone · SFHA · zona inundableYou receive a plain-language engineering report: findings, photos, and a clear go, conditions, or no-go read. It is built to inform your negotiation and your decision, not to sit in a drawer.
go · conditions · no-goWho this is for
In Florida, New York, Texas, and beyond. Buying remotely means you cannot walk the property yourself. We are your licensed eyes on the ground, with a report you can read from anywhere before you commit.
A house is the biggest purchase most families ever make. An independent engineering review tells you what you are really getting, separate from the seller and the listing.
A single rental, a multi-unit building, or a redevelopment site: we assess condition, permit status, and constraints so your numbers are built on reality.
How it works
Considering a property now? Schedule an assessment.
What the read measures against
The governing code, which adopts the International Building Code (IBC 2018). The benchmark for what sound construction means on this island.
The load standard the code is built on. Puerto Rico is a special wind region, so the design wind speed is site specific; the connections decide whether the roof stays on.
Where the structure sits relative to the flood map, and what the base flood elevation (BFE) means for insurability and financing. Checked against the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
The permit history and Permiso de Uso, checked against what is actually built on site.
What it costs
Against a purchase that runs into the hundreds of thousands, a pre-purchase engineering review is cheap insurance. One unpermitted addition, one failing foundation, or one misread flood zone can cost you many times the fee after you own it. We scope it on the first call, sized to the property, so you know what you are paying for before any work begins.
Who stands behind it
Your report is not a committee opinion. It is the read of one accountable Puerto Rico engineer who stamps within his scope, so the document holds up where it counts.
The accountable engineer
Every finding in your report is one I will put my seal to. That is the difference between an opinion and accountable engineering.
Edgardo L. Santiago Martínez, PE Chief Engineering Officer · PE Lic. #12474, CIAPR FAQ
Still deciding? Ask us directly, no obligation, and you hear back within one business day.
It is a Structural Engineering Visual Assessment by a CIAPR-licensed professional engineer, the engineering read a home inspection is not licensed to give. It assesses the structure, permit and use status, and flood exposure with an engineer's judgment, and produces a written report you can act on. It is general engineering due diligence, not a brokerage service.
Yes. Many of our clients buy remotely from Florida, New York, and Texas. We assess the structure and verify the records on the ground, then deliver a written report you can review from anywhere before you close.
No. Those are matters for your attorney or notary, and we tell you plainly when something belongs with them. Our scope is the engineering: structure, permits and use, flood exposure, and code. CRIM is the Centro de Recaudacion de Ingresos Municipales, the municipal tax authority.
Start your due diligence
A few details and your timeline. We reply within one business day, in writing, with next steps.
Direct channels
One-business-day response standard. Reach us by any channel and you hear back within one business day, every time.
Prefer to read first?
Start with the full pre-purchase due-diligence guide, then book the call when you are ready.
Prefer to read first? Before You Buy in Puerto Rico: an engineer's due-diligence guide.
Do not close on a property you have not had a licensed engineer read first. A short review now can save you a long, expensive surprise later.
Let's talk!General engineering education and an overview of professional services. It is not legal, tax, title, or real-estate brokerage advice. Puerto Rico Engineering, LLC is an engineering firm, not a real-estate broker. For legal, tax, or title questions, consult your attorney or notary. The report is an engineering go, conditions, or no-go judgment, not a repair-cost estimate.
